Ridge Vent Cap

ABSTRACT

A ridge vent end cap that can be readily bent to conform to roofs of varying pitches while enclosing ridge vents of various styles. The end caps are bent and fashioned for a flat blank, which is configured to allow it to be bent and formed into a shape that accommodates various styles of ridge vents and that encloses ridge vents on roofs with varying pitches. The bent finished end cap has a top ridge beam and a pair of end panels, bottom flaps and corner flaps. Each corner flap has its own top corner flap and a bottom corner flap. A preformed key hole slot along the central axis/plane of the blank or finished end cap allows the end cap to bend without buckling so that the end panels slide over one another to enclose the end open of the ridge vent while conforming to the pitch of the roof. A tooth is formed in one of the bottom flaps, which bites into the roof shingles helps ensure that the end panels cannot be pried up or burrowed under by rodents and insects.

This invention relates to ridge vents for sloped roofs, and in particular ridge vent end caps that can conform to sloped roofs of varying pitches.

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Ridge vents are a type of vent installed at the peak of a sloped roof which allows warm, humid air to escape a building's attic. Ridge vents are most common on shingled residential buildings. Ridge vents allow warm air to flow through from attics during summer months to cool the building to reduce cooling costs. During winter months, these vents allow moisture to escape attics, which prevents the deterioration of attic insulation. While roof ridge vents help maintain the climate within the attics, they allow provide a point of egress for small animals to enter the building.

Typically, end caps are fashioned and bent from metal flashing and scrap pieces of sheet metal to enclose the ends of roof ridge vents. While most type of ridge vent can be readily adapted for use on roofs of differing pitches, end caps must be fashioned or bent not only to accommodate the particular style of configuration of ridge vent, but also the particular pitch of the roof the vent to which the vent is mounted. End caps fashioned and bent to enclose a particular ridge vent mounted to one roof will not adequately enclose or seal the end opening of the same ridge vent on a roof having a different pitch.

The present invention seek to provide a ridge vent end cap that can be readily bent to conform to roofs of varying pitches while enclosing ridge vents of various styles. The end caps of this invention are bent and fashioned from a flat metal or plastic blank, which is configured to allow it to be easily bent and formed into a shape that accommodates various styles of ridge vents and that enclose ridge vents on roofs with varying pitches. The bent finished end cap has a top ridge beam and a pair of end panels, bottom flaps and corner flaps. Each corner flap has its own top corner flap and a bottom corner flap. A preformed key hole slot along the central axis/plane of the blank or finished end cap allows the end cap to bend without buckling so that the end panels slide over one another to enclose the open end of the ridge vent while conforming to the pitch of the roof. A tooth is formed in one of the bottom flaps, which bites into the roof shingles helps ensure that the end panels cannot be pried up or burrowed under by rodents and insects. The corner flaps along with their top and bottom flaps may be used as desired, whether being bent to nest against and affixed to the top, bottom and sides of the ridge vent, unbent to cover the end opening of the ridge vent, or simply cut off and discarded.

The above described features and advantages, as well as others, will become more readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art by reference to the following detailed description and accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention may take form in various system and method components and arrangement of system and method components. The drawings are only for purposes of illustrating exemplary embodiments and are not to be construed as limiting the invention. The drawings illustrate the present invention, in which:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of the flat blank of an embodiment of the end cap of this invention in its unbent form;

FIGS. 2 and 3 are perspective views of the end cap of FIG. 1 in their finished bent form showing how the end cap may be bent to accommodate ridge vents used on roofs of varying pitches;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the end cap of FIG. 1 and a conventional shingle type ridge vent of pitch roof;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the end cap of FIG. 1 mounted to the ridge vent of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a perspective of the end cap and ridge vent of FIG. 5, with the ridge vent shown in shadow;

FIG. 7 is a top view of the end cap and ridge vent of FIG. 5;

FIG. 8 is a side view of the end cap and ridge vent of FIG. 5;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the end cap of FIG. 1 and a conventional metal ridge vent of pitch roof;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the end cap of FIG. 1 and a conventional metal ridge vent of pitch roof, showing the corner flaps bent to cover the sides of the ridge vent;

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the end cap of FIG. 1 mounted to the ridge vent of FIG. 10;

FIG. 12 is a perspective of the end cap and ridge vent of FIG. 11, with the ridge vent shown in shadow;

FIG. 13 is a top view of the end cap and ridge vent of FIG. 11; and

FIG. 14 is a side view of the end cap and ridge vent of FIG. 11.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

In the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments, reference is made to the accompanying drawings that form a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration specific preferred embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, and it is understood that other embodiments may be utilized and that logical, structural, mechanical, electrical, and chemical changes may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. To avoid detail not necessary to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, the description may omit certain information known to those skilled in the art. The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of the present invention is defined only by the appended claims.

Referring now to the drawings, FIGS. 1-4 illustrate an embodiment of the ridge vent end cap of this invention, designated as reference numeral 100. As shown in Fig. *, end cap 100 begins as a flat blank of tin, steel, aluminum or other suitable metal. Metal is a desirable material for the end cap because it is resistant to animals and insect damaged. The flat blank has a particular outline and configuration that allows it to be bent and formed to accommodate various styles of ridge vents. The configuration also allows the end cap to enclose ridge vents on roofs with varying pitches. To faciliated the bends that form the finished end cap, the blank has a number of fold lines cut, scored or otherwise formed in the flat blank. Similar, nail holes can be preformed in the blank to aid in affixing end cap 100 to the ridge vent itself. While metal is often the desired material for the end cap, Alternative embodiments may use a thin flat plastic blank, which is likewise configured to be bent and formed to accommodate the various styles of ridge vents and roof pitches. Again, fold lines and nail holes are ideally formed in the flat plastic blank to aid in bending the blank into its finished form. Still other embodiments may be molded from plastics or other composite materials directly into their finished form for use with specific ridge vents and roof pitches.

FIG. 1 shows the basic shape and configuration of flat blank 102 that is bent to form end cap 100. FIGS. 2 and 3 show the basic shape and configuration of the bent finished end cap 100. As shown, both blank 102 and the bent finished end cap 100 are almost symmetrical about a central vertical axis or plane in both flat unbent form and bent finished form. End cap 100 is configured to have a top ridge beam 110, two end panels 120, a pair of bottom flaps 130, a pair of opposed corner flaps 140, each having a top corner flap 150 and a bottom corner flap 160. Ridge beam 110 is formed by folding over the top rectangular edge of the flat blank twice along fold lines 111 and 113. The two end panels are separated by a vertical key hole slot 121 that extends along the central vertical axis of end cap 100. Bottom flaps 130 are bent at 90 degree angles to end panels 120 along fold lines 133 and underlie the folded ridge beam 110. It should be noted that the fold lines 133 are not parallel but angled with respect to fold lines 111 of the ridge beam. Bottom flaps 130 are separated by an inverted V-shaped notch 131 that extends from key hole slot 121. A small slit 135 is formed in one of bottom flaps 130 to form a small “tooth” or anchor blade 134. When affixed to a ridge vent and roof, tooth 134 bites into shingling to hold down the bottom edge of end panels 120 and prevent them from being pried upward. Corner flaps 140 extend outward from end panels 120 and as desired may be bent back to affix the ends of end cap 100 to ridge vent 2 (FIGS. 9-14). Similarly , top corner flaps 150 and bottom corner flaps 160 extend from corner flaps 140 and may be bent along fold lines 153 and 163 respectively. In the flat unbent form, top corner flaps 150 and bottom corner flaps 160 are separated from end panels 120 by V-shaped notches 151 and 161 respectively.

FIGS. 2 and 3 illustrate how the configuration of the end cap 100 can be bent to accommodate ridge vents on roofs with various pitches. End cap 100 can be bent at is mid point of ridge beam 110 along fold line 115 with end panels 120 slide overlapping so that the bottom end of end panels 120 lay flat against and cover the exposed end face of the ridge vent 10. As shown, key hole slot 121 allows end panels 120 to overlap one another without buckling the flat surfaces of the end panels or ridge beam 110. Consequently, its configuration, particularly the key hole slot 121 allows end cap 100 to be easily bent to conform to any roof pitch and to provide a clean flat covering for most styles of ridge vents.

FIGS. 4-8 show end cap 100 used on a shingle covered baffle style ridge vent 10. Ridge vent 10 consist of a pair of porous parallel side baffles 12 placed either side of the roof peak and a covering row of top shingles 14. Side baffles 12 allow lateral air flow into the roof without providing an egress for animal; however, ridge vent 10 with an open ends 11, which are enclosed by end cap 100. As shown, blank 102 is bent to from end cap 100, which is shaped to enclose the ridge vent open 11 and conform to the pitch of the sloped roof 2. As shown, for use with ridge vent 10, corner flaps 140 are not bent back, but remain in the plane of end panels 120. When end cap 100 is fitted to ridge vent 10, bottom flaps 130 and bottom corner flaps 160 slide under baffles 12. Top corner flap 150 is bent back to overlie ridge vent 10 so that the ends of baffles 12 are interposed between the top and bottom corner flaps 150 and 160, respectively. End cap 100 is secured to ridge vent 10 by a nails or screws driven through nail hole 155 into vent baffles 12.

FIG. 9-14 show end cap 100 used on another style of ridge vent 20. Ridge vent 20 consist of an elongated section of sheet metal bent to form an elevated vent nailed or screwed to the peak of sloped roof 2. As shown, ridge vent 20 has a pair of opposed base flanges 22 and side walls 24 integral connected by a pitched top 26. Again, blank 102 is bent to form end cap 1000, which is shaped to enclose the open end 21 of ridge vent 20 and conform to the pitch of the roof 2. As shown, for use with ridge vent 20, corner flaps 140 are bent back to overlie vent side walls 24. Similarly, bottom corner flap 160 can be bent outward to overlay base flange 22. When end cap 100 is fitted to ridge vent 20, bottom flaps 130 slide inward into the ridge vent opening. Top corner flaps 150 are bent to overlie top 26 of ridge vent 20. End cap 100 is secured to ridge vent 20 by metal screws driven into ridge vent 20 through nail holes 145, 155 and 165 of corner flap 140, top corner flap 150 and bottom corner flap 160, respectively.

One skilled in the art will note that the configuration of the flat blank, which is fashioned into the finished bent end cap allows the end cap to fully enclose the open ends of most styles of ridge vent, as well as to accommodate for roofs of differing pitches. The preformed key hole slot along the central axis/plane of the blank or finished end cap allows the end cap to bend without buckling so that the flat end panels slide over one another to enclose the open end of the ridge vent while conforming to the pitch of the roof. The tooth formed in one of the bottom flap, which bites into the roof helps ensure that the end panels cannot be pried up or burrowed under by rodents and insects. The folded ridge beam provides rigidity to the end cap. The corner flaps along with their top and bottom flaps may be used as desired, whether being bent to nest against and affixed to the top, bottom and sides of the ridge vent, unbent to cover the end opening of the ridge vent, or simply cut off and discarded.

The pre-fashioned blanks can be stacked for convenient storage before being bent in the finished configuration as needed for any particular ridge vent. Unneeded flaps can be easily cut off with shears in the field before installation. The fold lines formed in the flat blanks allow for clean precise bends, which result in an aesthetically clean bent finished end cap. Preformed nail/screw holes in the blank allow the end cap to be easily secured to the ridge vent and roof and prevents the caps and vents from being crimped or otherwise damaging while being mounted together.

It should be apparent from the foregoing that an invention having significant advantages has been provided. While the invention is shown in only a few of its forms, it is not just limited but is susceptible to various changes and modifications without departing from the spirit thereof.

The embodiment of the present invention herein described and illustrated is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed. It is presented to explain the invention so that others skilled in the art might utilize its teachings. The embodiment of the present invention may be modified within the scope of the following claims. 

I claim: 1: An end cap for enclosing the open end of a ridge vent mounted to a sloped roof, the end cap comprising: a cap body having a pair of integral end panel portions having an upper edge and a beam portion integrally connecting the pair of end panel portions along their upper edge, the cap body having a key hole slot formed therein between the pair of end panels so that the pair of end panels may slide relative to and over one another. 2: The ridge vent end cap of claim 1 wherein the pair of end panels each having an integral bottom flap portion bent relative to the end panel to lie under the ridge vent. 3: The ridge vent end cap of claim 1 wherein one the pair of end panels has a protrusion part extending from the bottom edge thereof for embedding into the sloped roof when the end cap is affixed to a ridge vent. 4: The ridge vent end cap of claim 1 wherein each of the pair of end panel portions has an integral corner flap bendable relative thereto. 5: The ridge vent end cap of claim 4 wherein the corner flap of each of the end panel portions also has a top flap and a bottom flap bendable relative to the corner flap for overlying the ridge vent. 6: An end cap for enclosing the open end of a ridge vent mounted to a sloped roof, the end cap comprising: a cap body formed from a flat pre-configured blank, the blank having a pair of integral end panel portions configured therein, and a beam portion integrally connecting the pair of end panel portions in a side by side relation, the blank body having a key hole slot formed therein between the pair of end panels to define adjacent edges of the pair of end panels so that the pair of end panels may slide relative to and over one another when bent to form the cap body. 7: The ridge vent end cap of claim 6 wherein the pair of end panels each having an integral bottom flap portion bent relative to the end panel to lie under the ridge vent. 8: The ridge vent end cap of claim 6 wherein one the pair of end panels has a protrusion part extending from the bottom edge thereof for embedding into the sloped roof when the end cap is affixed to a ridge vent. 9: The ridge vent end cap of claim 6 wherein each of the pair of end panel portions has an integral corner flap bendable relative thereto. 10: The ridge vent end cap of claim 9 wherein the corner flap of each of the end panel portions also has a top flap and a bottom flap bendable relative to the corner flap for overlying the ridge vent. 